Energy booster

ENERGY giant SSE has seen its profits rocket thanks to its gas generation business making a killing.

The adjusted operating profit at SSE Thermal – the part of the business that burns gas to generate electricity – nearly tripled to £100million in the six months to the end of September.

Along with an even bigger boost for its gas storage arm, it helped push SSE’s overall operating profit to £716m.

It comes as Chancellor Jeremy Hunt considers whether to increase the windfall tax on oil and gas giants from 25% to 35%.